SENATOR Loren Legarda has filed a bill seeking to establish mandatory national guidelines for the creation and operation of Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) across the country, aiming to ensure consistent quality and governance in locally funded higher education institutions.

Senate Bill No. 1415, or the proposed Local Universities and Colleges Governance Act, seeks to institutionalize clear standards for the establishment, administration, and academic programs of LUCs, which are funded and operated by local government units (LGUs).

Legarda said the measure is anchored on the constitutional mandate to make quality education accessible to all Filipinos and complements the implementation of Republic Act No. 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which provides free tuition in state universities and colleges and LUCs.

“As of January 2024, 137 LUCs have been operating nationwide. These institutions play a crucial role in making tertiary education accessible at the community level. However, the absence of unified guidelines has led to uneven governance and prioritization among LGUs,” Legarda said in her explanatory note.

Under the proposed measure, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will supervise degree-granting programs, while the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will oversee technical-vocational and diploma programs offered by LUCs.

The bill mandates the submission of a feasibility study, financial certification, project development plan, and a five-year institutional development plan before any LGU can establish a new LUC.

It also requires compliance with CHED and TESDA standards before opening degree or diploma programs.

Legarda emphasized that the bill will help rationalize and strengthen the governance of LUCs in line with the recommendations of the Second Congressional Commission on Education, which found both opportunities and challenges in LUC operations.

“LUCs are strategically positioned to drive equitable access to education, but the lack of consistent standards threatens their quality and efficiency. This bill provides a coherent legal framework to ensure that LUCs are effective, accountable, and responsive to community and workforce needs,” she said.